Criminals could be named and shamed... with their convictions printed on posters

Convicted burglars, car thieves and drug dealers may be named and shamed on posters plastered around their home town.

Ministers last night agreed to consider the scheme in the hope that the threat of public humiliation might deter would-be criminals and those at risk of re-offending.

The Government is already committed to publishing the results of court cases online and provides details of the outcome of trials free to local newspapers to print.

In some areas, the police deliver newsletters to residents listing court cases.

But Labour's Sharon Hodgson said in Parliament: 'Any potential deterrent effect is going to be for the people who may go on to commit these crimes, then they need to see this information.

'I can't imagine that many of them will log on, go online to see what the sentence may be.'

She asked Ms Prentice: 'Will you consider using a poster campaign or taking out adverts in national newspapers in order that the perpetrators will know that they will be caught and what the consequences will be for their own lives?'

Ms Prentice replied: 'I do think you have offered a very helpful and constructive suggestion and it's certainly one that we will look at.

'I have seen national advertising campaigns, for example in and around London - particularly on gun and knife crime - which I think are very effective.'

She said in her Lewisham East constituency the police safer neighbourhood team's newsletter contained details of offenders and their sentences.

Ms Prentice added: 'I think we should look as wide as possible as to how to make sure that everyone, both the victim and the offender, are aware of what the cost of crime really is.'

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Criminals could be named and shamed... with their convictions printed on posters